you tell me which one is high end mastered

[scribe]

Ok,
Here we have 3 files.
one has been mastered by a high end mastering studio, one is the dry mix and one is mastered by me (very quickly I might add just for this purpose of comparison) .

On the one that is mastered by the studio I have lowered the volume so they are all 3 are about equal so there shouldn't be any immediate signs to give it away.

I know that mp3 are not going to do it any favours.

Also, I would like to know which one people prefer, dont worry if you hate the song, just which one you like the sound of.

BTW it is not the whole version of the track.

[magno]

I liked 4 the best followed by 6 then 5.
I want to believe that 4 is the mastered version, but I'm going to say it's the unmastered one.
6 is the mastered one and 5 is yours.
I hope I'm wrong, "high end mastering studio" sounds expensive.

[MarkAH]

4 doesnt sound as compressed to me, but as for telling the difference, its only very subtle, i would definately say 5 or 6 is the mastered track, will listen again on some better speakers, i like this challenge! lol!

[richiebee]

What's the point of lowering the volume to hide which is which since a major function of mastering is to maximize signal level?

I think 5 should be the pro mastered version, 6 is yours and 4 is the original. But depending on the brief of the mastering engineer, 5 and 6 could be reversed.

[scribe]

Originally Posted by richiebee

What's the point of lowering the volume to hide which is which since a major function of mastering is to maximize signal level?

This is one opinion.

I dont think that maximizing level is the only reason to master. The point of it was to get objective opinions on if a top dollar studio with really expensive gear is just going to make things louder. For me it is a deciding factor wheather I am going to master myself from now on with my humble set up, save some money and just tell people to turn it up or continue to be a soldier in the loudness war.

Interesting read ----> Loudness war - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[gradgt]

Number 4 is the pro-mastered one, am I right? I think it sounds the best. If that's the one that you mastered, i'd say stop paying studios.

If you want, I do mastering for a lot less then high end studios with about the same results. I can do it for way cheaper because I don't have to pay the bills for $100,000 consoles, etc. I have NO problem getting mixes loud. Just throwing it out there!

[humdogj]

I thought 4 and 5 sounded similar. I think 4 is the mastered version, 5 is your version, and 6 is the dry mix....when will the results be posted? Btw, I dig the tune.

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by scribe

This is one opinion.

I dont think that maximizing level is the only reason to master.

I didn't say it was.

[scribe]

Originally Posted by richiebee

I didn't say it was.

Hi, Your right, you didnt. You said it was a major function, my mistake.

Originally Posted by humdogj

I thought 4 and 5 sounded similar. I think 4 is the mastered version, 5 is your version, and 6 is the dry mix....when will the results be posted? Btw, I dig the tune.

I will give it another few days I think and all will be revealed. Glad you like it. Heres some useless information, I played the cymbles with keys...

[gradgt]

seriously, just tell us now. no one wants to play a waiting game.